MORE than 700 objections have so far been registered to a crematorium plan.

Residents in Hooton and the surrounding areas have deluged the borough council with their views ever since details of the scheme were revealed in July.

Objectors have formed the Hooton Crematorium Action Group to fight the proposal from the Westerleigh Group.

The application, for Waterworks Lane, had been due to be decided at a special planning committee meeting on October 9, but this was put back.

The council said it needed more information on highways matters and whether there was a need for the crematorium in that area, or indeed the borough.

A new meeting has been arranged for November 28, while councillors are also planning a site visit.

Due to the large amount of public interest in this scheme, it is expected the meeting won't take place in the council chamber but somewhere larger, like the Civic Hall.

Westerleigh, which owns and operates 10 crematoriums and cemeteries across the UK, has been searching for a suitable site for 10 years, and had earlier looked at Hadlow Road, Willaston.

Managing director Richard Evans said: 'Should we get permission, we plan to use noise abatement equipment at an extra cost to us of £500,000, so it will be very quiet for both funerals and those living nearby.

'The air from the crem will be particularly clean. There will be no smoke or dioxins. Filters will be used to a higher standard than some neighbouring crematoriums.'

He said 10% of their budget for the site would be spent on landscaping, while boundary trees will ensure people will not see the building.

'As for additional traffic, it might need some widening of the lane, but at the top (Hooton Road) it should be sufficient.

'We would have to bear the cost of any work on the lane, and the highways department is looking at it,' he added.

...but majority are in favour

THE majority of borough residents want a new crematorium built at Hooton, according to a survey.

The independent poll, conducted across Ellesmere Port & Neston earlier this month, shows 84.39% of people in favour of the crem or having no objection.

This contrasts to the 15.61% opposed to it or who have some reservations about the scheme. Borough planners are due to decide on the scheme in late November.

The findings were welcomed by Richard Evans, managing director of the applicants, Westerleigh Group.

He said: 'This independent survey confirms what we have been told by many community representatives in the course of our own consultations.

'Residents have said they are fed up with the costs and distances involved in going to Blacon at Chester and Landican on the Wirral.

'We are offering residents in this borough a peaceful setting at Hooton and a caring service for the bereaved.'